The Hindu : International : Colombo blast, a message for Government?

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Dec 14, 2004

International

International

Colombo blast, a message for Government?

By V.S. Sambandan

COLOMBO, DEC. 13 . Sri Lankan security analysts and eyewitnesses feel Saturday's grenade explosion at a concert featuring Indian filmstar, Shah Rukh Khan, was the outcome of lax security, possible clash of business interests and the jostle for space in the island's bitterly contested domestic politics.

"This has been mishandled from the very beginning," a security analyst told The Hindu . "The authorities should have been more strict on the initial protests, which clearly appeared to be directed, not against the event, but for political mileage," he said.

He was referring to the protests a week before the concert, when a section of Buddhist monks wanted the event to be postponed citing the first death anniversary of a controversial tele-evangelist.

Two persons died and 19 persons were injured, including the wife of former cricketer Ravi Shastri, in the blast.

The death of a Sri Lankan fan and an expectant-mother, Maheshika, who had entered the concert with a back-row ticket but was killed inside the sterile zone — between the stage and the VIP enclosure — pointed to the lax security.The other victim, also in the zone, was a photographer of a Sinhalese newspaper.

An analyst said a catastrophe was averted pointing out to the presence of high-profile invitees, including the Indian High Commissioner, Nirupama Rao, and Sri Lankan dignitaries.

Pointing out that frenzy against the event was whipped up largely by a section of hardline monks seeking more "domestic political space," he said the explosion "could also be intended to send a message that they can create problems for the Government."

Though several cultural programmes were held during this period, including the December 10 performance by the Air Supply music band, "only this was opposed and attacked, reflecting anti-Indian sentiments in sections of the Buddhist clergy," he said.

According to Sri Lankan and Indian fans in the concert, police security, which was tight before the event and in its initial stages, waned as the evening progressed.

Four teams

Though police have formed four special teams, no breakthrough was reported. As the Cabinet Minister and former Sri Lankan cricket captain, Arjuna Ranatunga, was one of those involved in organising the event, a combination of political and commercial rivalry is also not excluded.

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